Saturday, January 25, 2020
Analysis of taobaos business strategies
Analysis of taobaos business strategies Taobao is the most famous online shopping website in China. It was launched in 2003 and within two years it became the leader of Chinas online shopping market. In order to keep the leadership position in increasingly intense competition and sustain its development, Taobao needs to modify and better its strategies for future development. Furthermore, its marketing strategies can also provide a good example for other online shopping companies. This essay is going to make an overall analysis on Taobaos business strategies by SWOT. Key words: Taobao; marketing strategies; SWOT analysis Taobao operates a website, Taobao.com which is the largest Internet retail website in China. According to its website the transaction volume on Taobao (gross merchandise volume or GMV) exceeded RMB200 billion (US$29 billion) in 2009. Taobao launched in 2003, is owned by Alibaba Group, which is a family of Internet-based businesses. (Taobao, n.d.) Taobao provides not only online platforms but also third-party online payment services (Alipay) and instant messaging services (Aliwangwang) Platforms within Taobao include Alimama (alimama.com), an online advertising exchange and affiliate network for publishers in China. In addition, there is also a classified listing website Koubei.com. (ibid.) SWOT analysis, according to Philip Kolter, is an overall evaluation of a companys strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. (Kolter, 2003) As the competition in the online shopping market is becoming increasingly fierce, Taobao faces some problems as well. The purpose of this SWOT analysis is to provide a critical review of key factors that may slow down Taobaos future development. 2. Strengths 2.1 Leading position in Chinas online shopping market Taobao is an acknowledged leader in both B2C (business to consumer) and C2C (consumer to consumer) online shopping market in China. Taobao has (should be: had) more than 190 million registered users by (could use: at) the end of April, 2010. (Taobao, n.d.) It has built a strong brand and is recognised by more Netizen (which is defined as the Chinese population who have accessed the Internet in the past 6 months by China Internet Network Information Centre) (CNNIC. 2008, January 15th). The company is well-thought-of by customers which gives Taobao more advantages in competition. 2.2 Effective combination of diversified offerings Taobao combines its three segment businesses effectively to enlarge its customer base. Take Alipay as an example, it is a third-party online payment platform, provides a simpler, efficient and safe payment service for both customers and sellers. This service not only ensure (should be: ensures) the transaction security but also reduces the transaction risk for online consumers, as it enables buyers to confirm the quality of goods before releasing funds to sellers. For example, if goods are found (to be) broken or fake, customers can request Alipay to postpone the release of funds to sellers. (Taobao, n.d.) This service help (should be: helps) Taobao (to) attract more customers. In addition, an instant message (could use: messaging) service called Aliwangwang make (should be: makes) the communication between (the) buyer and seller easier. Moreover, this service enables (the) buyer and seller (to) have a directly private bargain during the transactions, which is the preference of Chinese customers. 2.3 Precise market positioning Taobao analyzed Chinas online shopping market at the beginning of its business. Different from other online shopping websites which prefer older white-collar worker(s) with higher salaries or people who like collecting and sharing, Taobao chose fashionable younger females as the target customer. This market positioning proved more suitable for Chinas market compared to other websites (apostrophe not needed) . This is one of the reasons that the growth rate of Taobao is much higher than other competitors. 3. Weaknesses 3.1 Limiting itself to local market The design of Taobao website and other supporting services were based on Chinas local market. This localisation strategy made Taobao grew (should be: grow) fast at the beginning. However, with the development of the website, this strategy limits Taobao to the Chinese market and (, therefore resulting in a) lack of presence in (the) global market. 3.2 Insufficient screen process to control counterfeit products Although Taobao has taken some measures to control the sale of fake goods, such as rating the sellers by credit value, the result was not as expected. Because of the free strategy that Taobao used, individuals can establish an online shop easily without charge and requirement. This makes it even hard to monitor and select sellers that commit fraud. Lack of effective screening processes to control the sale of counterfeit products has had a negative influence on customers confidence in Taobao. It could also affect Taobaos brand image and sales. 4. Opportunities 4.1 Growing demand for online shopping in China According to CNNIC, the number of online buyers reached 87.9 million by June 2009, increasing from 74 million in 2008 and 46 million in 2007. The online shopping penetration rate achieved 24.8% by June 2009. (CNNIC. 2010, January 15th; 2010, July 15th) As the data above shows, more people in China prefer to buy products online. Convenience and various choices could be two main reasons. This increasingly growing demand for online shopping contributed to the growth of Taobao. 4.2 Government support After the global financial crisis, (the) Chinese government provided a RMB 4 trillion stimulus package in order to boost the domestic economic growth through 2010. (the) IT industry received around 0.5% to 1% of the cash injection. (Xinhua, 2008). This gave online shopping companies strong support for future developments. 4.3 Safer payment systems for online transactions The improved online payment systems play an important role in the growth of Chinese online shopping markets. There are more flexible payment systems for customers to choose. For example, a third-party online payment system ensures the security of transaction(s) and enables customers to get their refunds easily. A simpler and safer payment for online transaction(s) attracts (should be: attract) more customers. 5. Threats 5.1 Low entry barrier leads to fierce competition Because of the low entry barrier and fast growing market, Taobao meets many challenges, particularly in the face of increased competition from new market entrants. In addition, without many technical difficulties, it is easy for other competitors to copy Taobaos business pattern. Therefore, Taobao will be forced to increase investments on advertising or technological innovation. 5.2 Strict policy for third parties payment license Recently, Peoples Bank of China issued an Administrative Measures for the Payment Services Provided by Non-financial Institutions which has raised the entry standard for third payment party. In order to get (could use: obtain) and keep the license, Taobao has to increase its expenditure on online payment. 5.3 Higher logistics costs Taobao will give customers suggestions about the logistic companies which are mostly local third party logistics providers and customers usually take the suggestions because of the lower delivery prices these companies offered, compared to other international express companies, such as DHL and UPS. However, local third party logistics recently announced that they would raise the price. As most online customers are highly prices sensitive, this will have a negative effect on Taobaos sale. 6 Conclusions According to the SWOT analysis, although there are some drawbacks which have negative effects on Taobaos future development, the advantages still outweigh the disadvantages. In addition, there are many opportunities for Taobaos further growth. This conclusion will give some suggestions for Taobaos future business expansion. First of all, in order to keep the leadership position, technological innovation is crucial for Taobao. Taobao may focus on continuous improvement of its online payment system, which is also one of its strengths, particularly in the aspect of transactions (should be transactions, without apostrophe) reliability and security. Moreover, website functions, Internet stability and high-speed access to websites are also important in providing a better user experience, which may help to attract more customers. Secondly, as Taobao has the advantage of large scale consumers and sellers, Taobao may segment its market to provide more specialized services based on different demands so that it can meet customers requirements more effectively. To sum up, it is undeniable that the future of (the) online shopping market in China is promising. Based on the statistics by CNNIC, It is in a steadily (should be: steady) development stage. In this attractive online shopping market, more complete logistics providers and payment systems will appear. These will provide Taobao more opportunities to develop in the future.
Friday, January 17, 2020
Culture in Kenya Essay
British Colonial rule destroyed Kenyaââ¬â¢s traditional culture. Colonialism occurs when one nation takes control of another. This is exactly what the British did to the Africans. Even though the British created a developed civilization with many aspects they brought to Kenya, they affected the Africans politically, economically, socially, and culturally. The British colonization of Kenya destroyed the culture of the native people, but it established a democratic government and left Kenya a more modernized country. With this being said, Kenya would not be the country it is today if it werenââ¬â¢t for the British. All through the continent of Africa, foreign occupation and involvement has always been a main point when analyzing the historical university of the enormous continent. Many historians and scholars have researched and studied events that have occurred all through African history with respect to foreign associations, particularly, imperialism and colonialism. By tradition, colonialism has been linked with a series of harsh consequences for the states that lose their freedom due to military problems and war. Colonialism has not been termed to be a current incident, but somewhat a recurring happening in many nations of the world. The history of colonialism provides overpowering evidence of how handling of friendlier people to beat the stubborn people, through ancient expeditions of disagreement of basic social services to the final, laid firm fundamentals for conflict in waiting, a time bomb which exploded when the colonial management was succeeded by free government. Even though colonialism can be checked with two countries, the intention of the stubborn country is not limited. However, there is a strong relationship between the actions of the conqueror that cause the dominated severe disabilities in their social and financial structure. The involvement of the European states and mainly of Britain in the East African region, specifically Kenya, from the late nineteenth century is an example of colonialism still under theory. The role of Britain in the growth of Kenya can be analyzed to estimate the implications and impacts on the cultural, aspect of the Kenya society.
Thursday, January 9, 2020
Jonathan Swift s A Modest Proposal - 1456 Words
Jonathan Swift was an Irish poet and satirist of the eighteenth century. Although the son of Englishmen, Swift was born and raised in Ireland. While living in Ireland, he witnessed the death of thousands of Irish due to starvation which was caused due to crop failure. Swift, who wasnââ¬â¢t even personally affected by the issue, acknowledged that the death of the Irish population which he argues was caused because of the neglect of English landowners. Instead of allowing for the issue to continue to be avoided, he addressed the issue. In 1729, Swift released a very popular narrative known as A Modest Proposal. This proposal is anything but modest but the title goes with the essay. This essay uses satire to get the message of HELP OUT THE IRISHâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦The abundance of children is doing nothing but worsening the starving conditions of the nation. However, babies could become a useful member of society if they were to be sold to the meat market. As mentioned w ithin the text, ââ¬Å"a young healthy Child well Nursed is at a year Old, a most delicious, nourishing, and wholesome Foodâ⬠. Young children of society would no longer be a burden but a solution to end starvation within the communities. This proposal continues on by advocating that selling children to the meat market will beneficial to all involved. By selling their children into the meat market, parents will be able to have extra cash in their pocket. This will ultimately lead to families being better able to support their families. There as well would be a surplus of food for the dying Irish population. There will be much more meat product available for this starving population. This solution would end brutal abortions and the murder of ââ¬Å"bastard childrenâ⬠by their parents. This would allow for less lives of children being abruptly ended without good reasoning. At least with this proposal, babies will be able to help out the people of Ireland. Obviously not to b e taken literal, Swiftââ¬â¢s narrative actually criticizes those who are allowing for the Irish to die of starvation. This narrative acknowledges that situation is ridiculous and the lack of an attempt to even address the issue is even worse. By proving such an obscure proposal, he is demonstrating thatShow MoreRelatedJonathan Swift s A Modest Proposal996 Words à |à 4 PagesJonathan Swift, 18th century writer and political activist, published ââ¬Å"A Modest Proposalâ⬠in 1729 in the midst of turmoil in his home country of Ireland. Under British rule Irish citizens were left destitute and neglected, giving Swift the inspiration for ââ¬Å"A Modest Proposalâ⬠. Jonathan Swiftââ¬â¢s use of Aristotle s modes of persuasion and straight-faced satire broke Ireland s silence, calling out affluent members of British society and religious hierarchy alike, creating one of the most influentialRead MoreJonathan Swift s A Modest Proposal971 Words à |à 4 PagesJonathan Swift is a well known writer who wrote Gulliver s Travels and many more lesser known works. A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift can be used to argue many things. The work itself is a pamphlet to that explains how one could go about the famine in Ireland. He suggests by his title that this will not be a over the top or extreme suggestion instead being modest and understandable. The most notable part of his work however is the obscenity of it as he describes in detail what the benefitsRead MoreJonathan Swift s A Modest Proposal1008 Words à |à 5 PagesAccording to Sparknotes, In the 1700ââ¬â¢s, Ireland went through an economic depression as well as other problems in the country such as starvation, overpopulation and intolerable taxation by England. The families in Ireland could not afford to maintain their children therefore the children became a burden. Politicians did nothing to improve Irelandââ¬â¢s situation. These ongoing Problems in Ireland led Jonathan Swift to write,â⬠A Modest Proposal.â⬠In his essay, Swift uses satire to give rational but extremeRead MoreJonathan Swift s Modest Proposal1562 Words à |à 7 PagesEmpire. Thesis: Jonathan Swift s Modest Proposal is the most effective in conveying its proposal against Imperialism as a universal theme. Directional Statement: Jonathan Swift s Modest Proposal successfully uses evidence to support its proposal and an effective style of writing. It also presents a clearly defined problem and solution compared to George Orwell s ââ¬Å"Shooting an Elephantâ⬠and Thomas Jefferson s ââ¬Å"Declaration of Independenceâ⬠. Point 1: Swift s Modest Proposal effectively usesRead MoreAnalysis Of Jonathan Swift s A Modest Proposal956 Words à |à 4 Pagesissue for the Irish and became a topic of satire ridicule for writers. Specifically, Jonathan Swift demonstrates mockery of this time in one of his written works, ââ¬Å"A Modest Proposal.â⬠The speaker proposes to shift the issues of over population and poverty to a business like mentality by paying woman to bare children and then after a year, gaining a profit by selling and eat their children. The speakerââ¬â¢s proposal to consume the children of Ireland demonstrates a satirical solution to the Irishââ¬â¢s economicRead MoreJonathan Swift s Modest Proposal850 Words à |à 4 PagesJonathon Swift ââ¬Å"Modest Proposalâ⬠is shocking satire that is supposed to bring to light the ill state of the Irish nation during the time period. Swift was making a point that the state that Ireland was in a major economic crisis and was overpopulated and was in a dire need of a solution, so he propose one. But even though this was written many years ago we can still draw inspiration form it today. The essay begins as a Proposal for a solution to the extreme poverty and over population of IrelandRead MoreJonathan Swift s A Modest Proposal1809 Words à |à 8 PagesJonathan Swiftââ¬â¢s A Modest Proposal is a satirical essay that sardonically uses an outrageous solution to the massive poverty in Ireland. He proposes this lengthy idea of eating children as the solution to the societyââ¬â¢s problems. His serious yet hyperbolic and satirical style allows Swift an approach to get people engaged in the difficulties the Irish had to do to survive their everyday life. This essay explores Swiftââ¬â¢s ability to use literary devices and how these techniques advance his idea aboutRead MoreJonathan Swift s A Modest Proposal1859 Words à |à 8 Pagessuperiority (Holmes). The satirical literary device was at its peak during the Neoclassical Period in which the enlightenment writer, Jonathan Swift, was exceptional at this writing style (Jokinen). He excelled at rebuking Britainâ⠬â¢s flaws and pointed out the hypocrisy at the time by extensive ridicule of the conventual school of thought. Jonathan Swiftââ¬â¢s, A Modest Proposal is an inspiration to many aspiring satirical authors, as he is admired as a rhetorical virtuoso that shed light on the profuse moralRead MoreAnalysis of Jonathan Swiftà ´s A Modest Proposal Essay532 Words à |à 3 Pagesdone, the issue hasnââ¬â¢t been fazed a bit. From Jonathan Swiftââ¬â¢s Modest Proposal, he clarifies the poverty issued throughout Ireland in the early 1700ââ¬â¢s and how one suggestion could change it all. Elaborated from the Literary Reference Center, ââ¬Å"A Modest Proposal, like Gulliverââ¬â¢s Travels, transcends the political, social, and economic crisis that gave birth to it, woeful as they were. Packed with irony and satirical revelations of the human conditionâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ Swift wasnââ¬â¢t just writing a masterpiece, but an intendedRead MoreCollectivism Vs. Individualism : The Unknown Ci tizen And Jonathan Swift s A Modest Proposal1783 Words à |à 8 Pagespolitically, with emphasis on the role a person takes in society, or philosophically- what makes a person think collectively or individually. Even though one might say that both theories are important, both W.H. Auden s The Unknown Citizen and Jonathan Swift s A Modest Proposal reflect criticisms of collectivism and promotes individualism. There are two main types of collectivism: ââ¬Å"horizontal collectivismâ⬠and ââ¬Å"vertical collectivismâ⬠. Collectivism has been characterized as horizontal collectivism
Tuesday, December 31, 2019
Sample Timber Sale Contract Template
After your potential timber sale has been shown and all bids are received, you should notify the highest acceptable bidder and arrange to execute a written timber contract. Use the sample template below only to flesh out the first draft of your contract. The information you collect in the draft process will be used so thisà exerciseà is not wasted effort. Always have it reviewed by both a forester and a lawyer, and abide by their suggestions for changes and fine-tuning. à A word of warning: always be careful when using a sample timber sale contract. Do not duplicate it word for word. Its easy to copy an example thinking that it will cover all of your conditions, but in many cases, it will not be adequate. Here are a few reasons below: State forestry and environmental laws differ and a contract should be specifically written to reflect those differences.Conditions of the sale are never the same from one situation to the next. These conditions should be customized in every contract.Property located in and around the sale area may be subject to damage. Language in the contract should indicate penalties if damage to that particular property should occur.Your legal ownership statusââ¬âindividual, partnership, or corporateââ¬âmay not be the same from one sale to the next and should be implied through the contract. The following template will start you in the right direction toward creating just the right contract.à Sample Timber Sale Contract This contract made and entered into this __day of__ ,20__ by and between __of__ , hereinafter referred to as the seller, and__ of__ , hereinafter referred to as the buyer agrees to purchase from the seller the designated timber from the area described below.I. The tract of timber located in Section__ ,Township __ , Range __ , County__ , State__.II. The trees designated for cutting _______________________NOW THEREFORE THIS AGREEMENT WITNESSETH:The seller for and in consideration of the sum of $___ on or before ___ to be paid in advance of cutting as required by the seller.THE BUYER AGREES:1. To cut only the trees marked with paint.2. To make payment for each tree unnecessarily cut or wantonly injured at treble the bid price for that species.3. To leave all streams and all public road right-of-ways free of logs, brush, and other obstructions.4. To assume liability for damage to fences, crops, cropland, and other property.5. To travel to and from and work in the timber only when the gro und is firm.6. That all timber included in this agreement shall remain the property of the seller until paid for in full.7. That the buyer has inspected the area and timber concerned, has estimated to his/her own satisfaction the quantity, quality, and value of the timber to be removed and accepts the goods with all faults.8. Unless an extension of time is granted by the seller, this contract shall terminate on (date) after which all logs and trees remaining on the tract revert to the ownership of the seller unless otherwise specified in paragraph 9.9. Special provisions:THE SELLER FURTHER OFFERS AND THE BUYER AGREES:1. To enter upon and allow access to the above described tract for the purpose of cutting and removing therefrom such timber as is included in the terms of this contract.2. To guarantee title to the forest products covered by this agreement and to defend it against all claims at the sellers expense.In witness whereof, the parties hereto have executed this contract this ___ (month), ___ (day), 20__(year).Signature of Seller___________ Signature of Buyer____________Post Office Address __________ Post Office Address __________Witness ______________________ Witness ______________________
Monday, December 23, 2019
The Song Glory, By Music Artists Common And John Legend
The song Glory was written by music artists Common and John Legend and was part of the Oscar nominated movie Selma. The movie Selma was an incredible experience that showcased the African American history and in particular the turbulent 1960s era in which Dr. Martin Luther King Jr(MLK) was leading the civil rights movement. The song Glory itself won the oscar for the best song in a motion picture and truly was an important part of the movie because not only did it chronicle the civil rights marches of 1965 led by MLK but it also incorporated events that occurred in the 21st century. It was this combination that made the song a true inspiration for all human beings because it shed a light on the struggle for racial equality that African Americans have been pursuing for over a century now and also showed that the struggle is still ongoing and is far from over. The song Glory through its lyrics included several key moments in the struggle for racial equality for African Americans such as the Rosa Parks incident, Ferguson, MLK civil rights marches and through all of these events the common theme of defiance and resistance is brought to light. The important theme of resistance that is shown by African Americans in the struggle for racial equality traces back to 1955 when Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to the white man and was arrested for breaking the segregation laws(History). Rosa Parks did not fight the police officer that arrested her but instead peacefullyShow MoreRelatedThe Slavery Of The United States Essay1728 Words à |à 7 Pagesusing music to spread awareness about issues that need attention. Public Enemy was a band formed in the late eighties that challenged the typical beliefs of society. Many of their songs, such as ââ¬Å"Fight the Power,â⬠spoke out against racial inequality in America, highlighting the issues with the government. Bands like Public Enemy set a foundation for future countercultural artists. Common is a modern rapper wh o supports the black community, expressing his opinions through music. He writes songs likeRead MoreMusic Is Necessary For Me1152 Words à |à 5 Pageslisten to music everyday and I couldnââ¬â¢t imagine going a day without it. This is because listening to music is necessary for me. I listen to music when I am bored, walking to class, at a party, going through different emotions, or basically doing anything. If you turn on your tv anything you watch has background music, we even have music in elevators, which is proving the point that humans need music. Sue Devine writes in an article that ââ¬Å"Whether weââ¬â¢re aware of it or not, sound and music is a primaryRead MoreThe Smashing Pumpkins : An Early Age Of The Most Influential Bands2072 Words à |à 9 Pagesunknowingly the people in your environment help develop how partial you are to any genre. Growing up, my mom, and older sister listened to a variety of diverse progressive music. So majority of that exposure helped me a t an early age identify what kind of ââ¬Å"tone colorsâ⬠I preferred. It makes it easier to pick the type of music you enjoy the most. Alternative rock, Synth, Goth Rock, Metal, Pop just about anything with a beat is ok to listen too. I just observed that Alternative Rock, and Synth PopRead More Angels Essay5539 Words à |à 23 Pagesmessengers and angels of the Lord, or as Cherubim, Seraphim, or Archangels, and not to be worshipped for they are creatures Col. 2:18; Rev. 19:10; 22:9. The meanings of angels, their appearance and purposes vary throughout history and the world. Artists have given us their visions of angels as winged creatures, usually beautiful figures that are glowing, shining, floating, in human form or as a voice. Saints as well as everyday people tell about being visited by or helped by angels In theRead MoreRastafarian79520 Words à |à 319 Pagestruth is that there has always been a committed Jamaican counter- culture that celebrates and sees redemption in Africa and rejects the European values that have oppressed a society. But prior to the advent of popular culture and especially the music recording business in the late twentieth century, its apparatus of cultural formation was controlled fully by the elite who, to a large extent, ran the educational apparatus and the economic system. But much of the country was beginning to questionRead MoreFrankenstein Study Guide14107 Words à |à 57 Pageschapter, and many movie stills and film clips. â⬠¢ Frankenstein: The Art and Legends (Michael Callis) makes connections between art, literature, and scientific achievements of the period. Audiocassettes To support studentsââ¬â¢ reading skills, have them listen to a tape recording of each chapter before they read on their own. Occasionally, have them read as they listen. â⬠¢ Frankenstein on eight cassettes (Books on Tape, 1984) Music Copyright à © by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Both musical and literaryRead MoreIndian English Novel17483 Words à |à 70 Pagesnotion of `novels` began to be first shelled out in India, lending a solid shape to the still-now floating criterion. The Classical age in Sanskrit literature was the time when fables and fictional novels were begun to be given a distinct shape for the common mass. As such, beginning from that period and still going on in the current scenario, Indian novels have time and again impressed upon the reading public as well as fetching esteemed and honoured accolades both the country and overseas. Indian novelsRead MorePropaganda by Edward L Bernays34079 Words à |à 137 Pagesof getting quick replies and effective discussionââ¬âhave opened up a new world of political processes. Ideas and phrases can now be given an effectiveness greater than the effectiveness of any personality and stronger than any sectional interest. The common design can be documented and sustained against perversion and betrayal. I t can be elaborated and developed steadily and widely without personal, local and sectional misunderstanding. What Mr. Wells says of political processes is equally true of commercialRead MoreMetz Film Language a Semiotics of the Cinema PDF100902 Words à |à 316 Pagesshould be rendered by constantive and not by ascertaining (p. 25). Finally, actor to translate Greimas s concept of actant is misleading and actant is usually kept (see Ducrà ´t and Todorov, Encyclopedic Dictionary of the Sciences of Language, Johns Hopkins University Press, 1979, p. 224), and discours image when translated as image discourse is not very clear, since it is referring to film, which is made up of images. The following rough spots occur only once each: Unusual (p. 5) translatesRead MoreExploring Corporate Strategy - Case164366 Words à |à 658 Pagesââ" ââ" ââ" ââ" ââ" ââ" ââ" ââ" ââ" ââ" ââ" ââ" ââ" ââ" ââ" ââ" ââ" ââ" ââ" ââ" ââ" ââ" ââ" ââ" ââ" ââ" ââ" ââ" ââ" ââ" ââ" ââ" ââ" ââ" ââ" ââ" ââ" PAGE NUMBER IN THE BOOK 605 608 619 625 629 652 662 667 677 685 694 708 712 718 727 733 740 746 CASE Ministry of Sound ââ¬â rapid growth but a questionable future in the music industry. Pharmaceutical Industry ââ¬â global forces at work in the ethical pharmaceutical industry. TUI ââ¬â competitive forces in the travel industry. HiFi ââ¬â how can small players survive changing markets? Amazon (B) ââ¬â latest developments in a successful
Sunday, December 15, 2019
Pagan and Christian Symbols in Beowulf Free Essays
At the time that Beowulf was written, the culture that produced the poem, the Anglo-Saxons, were a pagan culture. The Catholic Church was trying to spread its beliefs to other parts of the world. The Anglo-Saxons were a definite target. We will write a custom essay sample on Pagan and Christian Symbols in Beowulf or any similar topic only for you Order Now Many of the texts that we have out of that time period were written by Catholic monks. In Beowulf there are many references to pagan and Christian beliefs. These beliefs neither contradict, nor outshine each other. Rather, the monks writing the work interjected some Christian ideas in order to try and sell Christianity to the people that were familiar with the tale. The pagan and Christian ideas are perfectly laced together to introduce some of the ideas of Christianity to a pagan people. In this poem there are often references to pagan and Christian beliefs very close in the piece of poetry. This would tie a familiar belief to something exotic to the Anglo-Saxons. In lines 1261-1268, the story of Cain and Abel are briefly explained, but not far from this Christian reference is the idea of revenge, in line 1278, which is frowned upon in Christianity, but it was a popular belief among the Anglo-Saxon culture at that time. By binding these two elements together, the monk was trying to make Christianity seem less foreign and more like something familiar to the people. At the end of the attack on Grendelââ¬â¢s mother, in lines 1553-1556, the outcome of the fight was said to have been decided by God. Beowulf even credits God and thanks him for guiding him through the battle at many different points of the story. Yet, at the very end of the poem the greatest thing for Beowulf is fame. He wants to be remembered forever for his actions. At this point there is no mention of God or Godââ¬â¢s help. Beowulf boasts; I risked my life Often when I was young. Now I am old, But as king of this people I shall pursue this fight For the glory of winning, if the evil one will only Abandon his earth-fort and face me in the open. (lines 2511-2515) This gives to credit to God for his actions, but it does tie God into fame. Earlier in the poem God had helped Beowulf on his quest, which gained him eternal fame. This, again, ties a popular belief among the Anglo-Saxons to a Christian belief. Making it easier to understand and, in a way, makes Christianity seem like a desirable belief system if it will gain one fame. The monks who wrote down the oral tradition of Beowulf intertwined Christian and pagan beliefs, hoping it would make Christianity more familiar to the Anglo-Saxons of that time. The monks had also used examples of Christianity that made it seem desirable for the people to convert. The purpose of adding Christian elements to Beowulf was not to outshine the pagan beliefs but to make Christianity something the Anglo-Saxons would understand. How to cite Pagan and Christian Symbols in Beowulf, Essay examples
Saturday, December 7, 2019
Information Governance Practices and Related Trends
Question: Discuss about the Information Governance for Practices and Related Trends. Answer: Introduction This assessment will critically analyze the Information Governance practices and related trends by using two journal article sources. According to an article given by Wilkin and Chenhall (2010), the Information Governance is a cross-disciplinary approach that an organization uses to maximize the value of their information system by reducing the costs and risks through a sequence of activities and technologies. Another article byKooper, Maes, and Lindagreen (2011) states that the Information Governance comprises of the rules, legislations, regulations, information standards, metrics and policies that the organizations are required to comply while creating, sharing and using information. Critical Evaluation of Information Governance The information Governance includes an accountability framework to create a desirable behavior in the valuation, creation, usage, storage, archival and deletion of information. The first Article shows that the Information Governance is important to avoid the organizations from the fraud due to security controls and inadequate privacy, and poor quality of data. It holds controls, responsibility, accountability, authority of information system. The Information Governance is aimed at obtaining the information fairly and lawfully, holding the security and confidential of data, recording the information accurately and reliably, using the data ethically and efficiently, and finally, sharing the information appropriately and legally. Another article evaluates that the objectives of Information Governanceare associated with accountability, transparency, credibility of information system through high operational excellence and better information governance. It is aimed at producing an ongoing record of organizations information management systems and processes. The information Governance is focused on gaining consistence in the information compliance by following th e regulatory framework and legislations of the Australian Government(American Accounting Association, 2010). It protects the interests of the stakeholders by informing them through continuous information infrastructure system. The First article evaluates that the Information Governance provides an appropriate structure to the organization that links the IT processes, IT resources and information to the organizational goals and structures. It introduces the new ways of planning, acquiring, organizing, directing, controlling, delivering, supporting and monitoring IT performance.It empowers the employees by enabling them to respond to the growing environmental challenges. The second article evaluates that in some Australian organizations, the information governance fails because of the insufficient organizational commitment, lack of clear purpose, organizational change management and political instability, and inability to coordinate and design information governance. Along with this, it is not person specific or organization because the scope of information governance extends beyond the organizationalboundaries as it comprises of global laws as well as local Australian laws and regulations(Wilkin and Chenhal l, 2010). As per evaluations from the first article, it is identified that the Audit plan is referred as a process of designing an internal control system, information compliance through designed control system, and evaluation of efficiency of information control system.The Information governance audits can be classified into different categories including information audits, quality audits, operational audits, application audits, physical access units and logical access units. The information audit verifies the information produced/analyzed/processed/exchanged by the information system. The operational audits verify the effectiveness and adequacy of the information and ensure its availability for the business operations. The quality audit containsquality of data by including various dimensions of information design usage and control. The General controls audit includes the supervision and control of the management on information processing and hold it either operational or information complia nce based. The application audit analyzes the audits for the application system to be used in the information management. The physical access unit considers the physical audits to access to the corporate objectives for the organization(Khatri and Brown, 2010). The logical access audits includes access to better information management control for connecting the different organizational activities, processes and people by using the interconnectivity of computer system, intranet, extranet, and internet sources. Another article states that the audit planning process analyzes whether the task or project is implemented against the set information standards. The auditing process presents report on adequacy and applicability of operational standards. The auditing process provides an extent of compliance with corporate standards. It provides adequacy and application of system development standards and effectiveness of application systems. The Audit planning process contains the sequence of tasks to be performed, allocation of tasks to the auditors, and commencement of task. The audit planning process ensures the availability of the information through using computer sources(Kooper, Maes and Lindgreen, 2011). An efficient audit plan seeks the approval of the stakeholders, establishing the key performance objectives, identifying key performance indicators, assessing risks and threats for the optimum performance results, selecting the cross-disciplinary team, coordinating audit with other works, rev iewing all documents, develop audit measurement and conduct audit tests. The first article evaluates that the auditing plan requires developing the audit programs and prepares audit report for making improvements or modifications in the information management and controls. The performance of auditing plan also depends on the final auditing report as it should be clear, concise, informational, specific, and timely for attaining better results. The skills, experiences, and knowledge of the auditing team are also imperative for creating value to the organization.From the reviews of another article, it is identified that the auditing process is a typical organizational process which requires the computer assisted auditing tools, accounting knowledge, information management and data analysis skills, interpersonal skills, data reporting, Information security controls, system analysis skills, computer programming and auditing knowledge, information system and auditing software, and business analytical skills for the better auditing results and accountability of information systems. The Information System Quality assurance emphasizes the role of audit team and IS departmental members in assessing whether the IS audit is technically competent to provide the technical information to the organizational members and stakeholders by covering all areas of information system management and auditing. From the reviews of another article, it is evaluated that the auditing process should be subjective, learner-oriented, technical feasible, analytical, and practical that requires pre-planning for audit, data analysis and report, effective auditing tools and procedures, and follow up process for attaining better performance results. There are different types of risks associated with the organizational information system management and auditing process including technical risk, control risks, auditing risk, internal risk, and informational risks that should be managed by the IT/IS team to provide better accountability of information and effective management of business operati ons. The risks for the information sources and auditing process include security and privacy of data, excessive informational costs, fraudulent or hacking, robust management decisions, technical or server errors, disclosure of the information to others, and failure of the organizational information system to comply with the informational legislations and standards (Robinson, 2007). The risk assessment provides a framework for the effectiveness of risk management process by reducing the cost and threats involved in the information system management and auditing process. The risk management holds control on quality information by assessing the risk factors and external environmental threats. The Information Governance provides a legal framework for the management of the information sources. It is associated with meeting the informational and technological needs of an organization as well as its stakeholders in a legally and controlled environment. IS/IT control assists to create a technological infrastructure plan to provide the technological direction to support the business operations and activities. The IT project management is the application of skills, knowledge, tools, capabilities, and methods for implementing the project activities in order to meet the informational needs of different organizational stakeholders. The corporate code of conduct includes a directive control on the informational sources and ensures the accountability, honesty, integrity, security, morality, accountability, equality, and loyalty of the organizational information system (Haes, Wim and Grembergen,2009). The copyrights, patents, and trademarks are the organizational intellectual property rights that provide the security for the firms from the copyright violation, patent usage, stolen, or hackings, and insecurity of firms trademarks. The information privacy legislations provide the security of data and important information from being misused by others by ensuring the security of data. Conclusion The above evaluations from the both of articles conclude that an effective information governance structure in Australia is required for the organizations for linking the organizational information system and auditing process to comply with the local rules, legislations and regulation policies of the Australian government as well as global legalities. References American Accounting Association (2010).Value Relevance of FAS No. 157 Fair Value Hierarchy Information and the Impact of Corporate Governance Mechanisms,Journal of Information Corporate Governance, Vol. 85, Issue 4. Haes, D., Wim, S. and Grembergen,V. (2009) Moving From IT Governance to Enterprise Governance of IT,ISACA Journal, Vol. 3. Khatri, V. and Brown, V. C.(2010). Designing Data Governance,Communications of the ACM, Vol. 53, Issue 1. Kooper, M. N. R., Maes, E. E. O. and Lindgreen, R (2011). On the Governance of Information: Introducing a New Concept of Governance to Support the Management of Information,International Journal of Information Management, Vol. 31, no. 3. Robinson, N. (2007). The Many Faces of IT Governance: Crafting an IT Governance Structure, Information Systems Control Journal, Vol. 1. Wilkin, L. C. and Chenhall, H. R. (2010).A Review of IT Governance: A Taxonomy to Inform Accounting Information Systems,Journal of Information Systems, Vol. 24, No. 2, pp. 107-146.
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